It was a close call for Crisanti in 2010 who won by just over 500 votes. This time around he is challenged by a new slate of candidates and many more than in 2010. The candidates who participated in our Voting Guide seem to agree on a few things – property tax increases no more than inflation and support for Public-Private Partnerships (P3′s) in transit projects.

Create better services for our local businesses and reduce business property tax to be competitive with surrounding municipalities.

Hundal, Charan

Provincial and Federal Governments should invest at least $250 millions in joint ventures with all the big cities to create green economy jobs.

Patri, Gurinder

Educate the business owner as to be how to be competitive at global level. Create incentive for Research and development to help manufacturer to keep quality and price to make their product acceptable globally.

Rapid Public Transit, investment in our road infrastructure, senior/youth programs and jobs are some of top issues in Ward 1. While supporting a fiscally responsible pro-growth agenda I have been active in addressing these issues and will continue to advocate for my residents.

Hundal, Charan

Jobs, Transit, Housing, Infrastructures and Roads. I will prioritize all issues and put up to the council with proper business process in a timely fashion for necessary remedies.

Patri, Gurinder

Development and infrastructure. My focus is development and target Ward 1 to be developed as as model ward.

1. Do you support a property tax cap ensuring future hikes are no greater than the rate of inflation?

Yes, I Support a Property Tax cap ensuring future hikes are no greater than the rate of inflation.

2. Where, specifically, do you advocate finding savings in the current city budget?

No Response Received.

3. Do you support reducing the size of Toronto City Council?

I think Reducing the City council Size will not make a major difference. If Better people get elected for the Toronto City Council this would really improve how council operates.

4. Will you support contracting out garbage collection east of Yonge Street?

Yes i Support

5. What are your thoughts on the Municipal Land Transfer Tax – will you support reducing it or eliminating it?

Municipal land Transfer Tax must be reduced.

6. Toronto’s unemployment rate is much higher than the provincial rate. What are your ideas to create job growth in Toronto?

Creating More jobs by introducing more projects.

7. It seems City Council has been debating public transit forever with little results to show. How would you fund new transit projects to ease congestion for everyone? Do you feel we need to change the current transit planning process?

The plan is to have more satetlite base buses terminal with rapid movements of people in the busy period. Buses usually made with stainless steel. We want to have better quality buses. We will examine the cost factor minimum to have more better buses. Because of the winter condition we need proper buses to harsh winter conditions(staineless steel). Our Roads are in a state of disrepair. This was because of the winter storm we had earlier this year. Council has to have ideas to cope with this challenging conditions. Comparatively Brampton has demonstrated growth in its transit system(zum service). Zum Service is more efficient for rapid transit which we require. Major discussions as regards L.R.T vs Extension of Subway System???

8. Labour negotiations will be a big part of the next council term. What advice do you have for the city’s negotiating team to get the best deal for taxpayers?

No Response Received.

9. Do you see opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s) involving the City of Toronto? Where, specifically?

Transit

10. What is the top issue of concern for residents in your ward? What will you do as Councillor to address the issue?

New Public Transit and Property Taxes are of Paramount Importance. Commuting in the G.T.A to and from work takes about 80 mins, this is the worst amongst 19 Large Urban Areas in North America. Several Projects are controversial.

a) Subway vs L.R.T Technology

b) Streetcars and Congestion

c) Disruption from the Eglinton Crosstown and the Electrification of the Union Pearson Express.

The Proposals by Metrolinkx to raise revenue for Transit funding is also a major source of controversy.

1. Do you support a property tax cap ensuring future hikes are no greater than the rate of inflation?

Yes, keeping our property taxes below the rate of inflation will afford our residents a City they can prosper in.

2. Where, specifically, do you advocate finding savings in the current city budget?

Contracting out remainder of solid waste collection east of Yonge Street is a great place to start.

Harmonizing procurement practices where it makes sense.

3. Do you support reducing the size of Toronto City Council?

Yes, reducing the size of Council will add savings to our bottom line and will allow for more time effective and efficient decision making.

4. Will you support contracting out garbage collection east of Yonge Street?

Yes, I will be supporting the contracting out of garbage collection east of Yonge Street. Core City services are very important and caution should be taken when considering completely contracting out a function of the City. We must ensure that customer service and customer satisfaction will not be compromised. With that said, we should look at any opportunity to privatize services only if it would be of a greater overall benefit to our residents to do so.

5. What are your thoughts on the Municipal Land Transfer Tax – will you support reducing it or eliminating it?

I believe there is an appetite for the reduction or an eventual phased elimination of the LTT, if we are successful in finding further efficiencies and new revenue generating tools we can move in this direction.

6. Toronto’s unemployment rate is much higher than the provincial rate. What are your ideas to create job growth in Toronto?

We must continue to nurture and create better services for our local businesses. This would allow for their continued growth and sustainability, while creating the opportunity to hire locally. I have hosted several local business roundtables in my Ward, bringing our businesses together to network, while having our Economic Development Division engaged to assist our business owners. Also, we need to continue to work towards a reduced business property tax rate that is competitive with our surrounding municipalities.

7. It seems City Council has been debating public transit forever with little results to show. How would you fund new transit projects to ease congestion for everyone? Do you feel we need to change the current transit planning process?

We must ensure that our other two levels of government are engaged, while utilizing Private/Public Partnerships in the development of a true rapid transit strategy.

8. Labour negotiations will be a big part of the next council term. What advice do you have for the city’s negotiating team to get the best deal for taxpayers?

Labour negotiations are a big part of every Council term. We were successful in negotiating contracts without a strike in this term. Following the same practices used in this last term of office would be my best advice.

9. Do you see opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s) involving the City of Toronto? Where, specifically?

Yes, in transit and infrastructure.

10. What is the top issue of concern for residents in your ward? What will you do as Councillor to address the issue?

Rapid Public Transit, investment in our road infrastructure, senior/youth programs and jobs are some of top issues in Ward 1. While supporting a fiscally responsible pro-growth agenda I have been active in addressing these issues and will continue to advocate for my residents.

1. Do you support a property tax cap ensuring future hikes are no greater than the rate of inflation?

Yes and within the Fairness range.

2. Where, specifically, do you advocate finding savings in the current city budget?

To Eliminate duplication and an unnecessary consulting cost.

3. Do you support reducing the size of Toronto City Council?

No, it’s a lot of work so we need a hardworking team with diligence.

4. Will you support contracting out garbage collection east of Yonge Street?

No, but we need to look into this matter in more detail to obtain the best results for our tax payers.

5. What are your thoughts on the Municipal Land Transfer Tax – will you support reducing it or eliminating it?

We have a lot of important projects, which requires significant financing to build Toronto’s image as a world class city to attract National and International investments for better job opportunities.

6. Toronto’s unemployment rate is much higher than the provincial rate. What are your ideas to create job growth in Toronto?

Big Corporations failed to fulfill their social and economic obligations to communities. We need a new model of entrepreneurship to create jobs with Public and Private sector partnership. Provincial and Federal Governments should invest at least $250 millions in joint ventures with all the big cities to create green economy jobs without which we cannot achieve the desired results.

7. It seems City Council has been debating public transit forever with little results to show. How would you fund new transit projects to ease congestion for everyone? Do you feel we need to change the current transit planning process?

We need a better business process, a better solution to our problems and not constant conflict.

8. Labour negotiations will be a big part of the next council term. What advice do you have for the city’s negotiating team to get the best deal for taxpayers?

Business and Labour leaders should work together as a role model by understanding their obligations to the Tax payers. Keeping in view the benefits to the City, People and Business Community.

9. Do you see opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s) involving the City of Toronto? Where, specifically?

Transit and TCHC.

10. What is the top issue of concern for residents in your ward? What will you do as Councillor to address the issue?

The Top concern are Jobs, Transit, Housing, Infrastructures and Roads. I will prioritize all issues and put up to the council with proper business process in a timely fashion for necessary remedies.

1. Do you support a property tax cap ensuring future hikes are no greater than the rate of inflation?

I am very much in favour of property tax linked to inflation.

2. Where, specifically, do you advocate finding savings in the current city budget?

We need to rational while making cuts. We need to make sure the quality of service is not effected and no one is shown the door but need to be adjusted by creating new opportunities. Canada is know globally for its quality in its service and manufacturing. We need to make sure such cuts will not relegate Canada to a developing status than developed.

3. Do you support reducing the size of Toronto City Council?

No. To address the communities at local level we need adequate representation. Population has increased in GTA. To address the concerns of residents I think we need to proportionate the representation. If Federal representation is proportionated, why not at local level. It should be increased.

4. Will you support contracting out garbage collection east of Yonge Street?

Yes. I will lobby for contract for parks maintenance.

5. What are your thoughts on the Municipal Land Transfer Tax – will you support reducing it or eliminating it?

Land transfer tax should be a one time fee and not while transferring title or the seller should be reimbursed fully or partially or be set on a formula.

6. Toronto’s unemployment rate is much higher than the provincial rate. What are your ideas to create job growth in Toronto?

Cuts are not the solution. Need to create a plan of action to educate the business owner as to be how to be competitive at global level. Create incentive for Research and development to help manufacturer to keep quality and price to make their product acceptable globally.

7. It seems City Council has been debating public transit forever with little results to show. How would you fund new transit projects to ease congestion for everyone? Do you feel we need to change the current transit planning process?

This is key issue on which there has been an ongoing debate for years. Council needs to put down their feet firmly. We need a balanced approach of surface and subsurface system. This continued debate needs to end. Looks like making fools of residents. Need to create Public and Private sector partnership to address the funding.

8. Labour negotiations will be a big part of the next council term. What advice do you have for the city’s negotiating team to get the best deal for taxpayers?

We need to involve all the stake holders involved in these negotiations and address this issue keeping in view larger interest of Canada in view of new developing economic trends.

9. Do you see opportunities for public-private partnerships (P3s) involving the City of Toronto? Where, specifically?

Many parts of city are having infra structure which does not even meet current needs not to talk of future. To address this issue such partnerships are must.

10. What is the top issue of concern for residents in your ward? What will you do as Councillor to address the issue?

Ward 1 is lagging behind in development. Ward 1 is just seeing restoration process. Business belt has half a century old infra structure. This is effecting the economic prosperity. My focus is development and target Ward 1 to be developed as as model ward.